The Robert Schumann Prize of the City of Zwickau has been awarded by the lord mayor since 1964, usually on the 8th of June, the composer's birthday. The recipient is entitled to use the title "Winner of the Robert Schumann Prize of the City of Zwickau of the Year ... ".
From 1964 to 2002 the award was presented annually; from 2003 the prize is awarded every two years. The prize is awarded to outstanding conductors, instrumentalists, singers, orchestras or institutions of German and international musical life, musicologists or research institutions, who have made a special contribution to the dissemination of the musical works or the study of the life and work of Robert Schumann.
The proposals for the award of the prize are prepared and submitted by the board of the Robert Schumann Society Zwickau e. V.. The city council of Zwickau has appointed a jury for the award of this prize for the duration of its election period.
The prize is endowed with a total of €10,000. The prize includes a bronze medal with the Schumann portrait by Gerhard Lichtenfeld and a certificate. The Robert Schumann Prize can be shared.